Geography

Lebanon's mountainous terrain, proximity to the sea, and strategic
location at a crossroads of the world were decisive factors in shaping
its history. The political, economic, and religious movements that
either originated in the region or crossed through to leave an imprint
upon Lebanese society give form to that history.

The country's role in the region, as indeed in the world at large,
was shaped by trade. The area, formerly part of the region known as
Greater Syria, served as a link between the Mediterranean world and
India and East Asia. The merchants of the region exported oil, grain,
textiles, metal work, and pottery through the port cities to Western
markets. The linkage role of Lebanon was further enhanced by the nomads
of the Syrian and Arabian deserts who visited the cities of Syria to
trade. The caravans developed limited routes that often led to the
coastal cities of Tripoli, Beirut, Sidon, or Tyre. This created a
merchant class and brought wealth to the inhabitants of the region. The
trade between East and West led to the development of a cosmopolitan
culture in Lebanon's port cities, whose inhabitants became known for
their multilingualism, flexibility, moderation, and commercial acumen.

Lebanon was also affected by regional political conflicts and social
movements. The wealth of the region attracted powerful rulers who
coveted its resources. The strategic location was also attractive; it
was used either as a defensive position against enemies approaching the
Arab hinterland or as a stepping-stone toward Lebanon's neighbors. Over
the centuries, members of the nomadic tribes of the Arabian Peninsula
sought a more prosperous life in Lebanon. To this day, many Lebanese
families take pride in tracing their descent to ancient tribes of
Arabia. Moreover, refugees belonging to minority sects have settled in
its virtually inaccessible mountain valleys. Hence, the region became a
melting pot of cultural and social interaction among diverse groups. In
a social culture where blood lineage assumed primacy as a source of
identification and affiliation, the contrast between the new Arab
immigrant tribes and the settled inhabitants of the land frequently
produced conflicts.